Transmission control one-way shift lever



Nov. 29, 1949 o. ZANCAN 8 TRANSMISSION CONTROL ONE WAY SHIFT LEVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 15, 1948 Inventor ormv/o ZA/VC'AN Attorney Nov. 29, 1949 O, ANC N 2,459,735

TRANSMISSION CONTROL ONE WAY SHIFT LEVER Filed Nov. 15, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f "ll-Ill INVENTOR. 0 7' TA v/o ZAA/(AN Patented Nov. 29, 194 9 TRANSMISSION CONTROL ONE-WAY SHIFT LEVER Ottavio Zancan, lflew York, N. Y. Application November 1 5, 1948, Serial No. 60,130 3 Claims. (Cl. 74-476) This invention relates to a transmission of the type covered by my prior Patent 2,403,166 issued July 2, 1946, and it is one object of the invention to provide a transmission control linkage which is particularly adapted for use upon automobiles and other motor vehicles and includes in its construction a box of gears gearsto positions for obtaining predetermined speeds and operating means for the said lever of such construction and so associated with the steering post of a motor vehicle that a handle or lever for the operating mechanism will be in position where it may be readily grasped by a person holding the steering wheel of the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism wherein a flexible shaft has one end connected with the gear lever and and a lever for shifting its other end connected with an arm extending radially from a rotatably mounted actuatingshaft mounted longitudinally of the steering shaft and carrying at its upper end a handle by means of which the actuating shaft is turned in order to swing its arm and thus impart longitudinal movement to the flexible shaft and effect shifting of gears in the gear box.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism wherein the handle or lever for the actuating shaft thereof extends through a frame clamped to the steering post and special latch means is provided for holding the handle in an adjusted position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transmission and operating mechanism therefor of such construction that the gears may be very easily and smoothly shifted into position for various speeds and without it being necessary to shift the handle or lever first in one direction and then-in an opposite direction in order to progressively increase or decrease the speed of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide the operating mechanism with a handle and a rack structure of such construction that the handle will be prevented from moving to a reversing position accidently and thereby prevent gears from being stripped or otherwise damaged, the

gears being shifted into reverse while the vehicle the line 2-2 of V Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line- 3-3 of Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the gear box in section and the gearing therein in side elevation.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 'l! of Figure 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken transversely through the steering post and the actuating shaft supported in spaced relation thereof.

This improved transmission is particularly adapted for use in connection with an automobile, or other motor vehicle, but it will be understood that it may be installed in any other power driven device for which it is found suitable.

The gear box I may be of any dimensions desired and within this box are mounted a main shaft 2, which may be connected with or form a portion of the transmission shaft of a vehicle, a counter shaft 3, and a stub shaft 4. Gears 5, 5, and 1 of progressively decreasing diameters are keyed upon the counter shaft so that they turn with shaft and a small gear 8 keyed to shaft 3 meshes with a gear 9 rotatably carried by shaft 4. A shaft [0 with which the clutch is connected is journaled through an end wall of the box and carries a gear ll meshing with gear 5 and formed at its center with a socket I la surrounded by a clutch number llb having teeth about its Figure '7 it will be seen that the compound gear consists of a sleeve l3 carrying gears or pinions I4 and I5 of such diameter that they may be intermeshed respectively with the gears or pinions 6 and 1. When the compound gear I2 is moved along shaft 2 to a position where the clutch member I lb enters the socket [4a, the gear I5 is out of mesh with the gear 6 and the automobile will be driven forwardly at high speed as shaft 2 will be turned at the same speed as shaft l0. When the gears or pinions l4 and B are in mesh with each other the automobile will move at second speed, and when the large pinion I5 is in mesh with the small pinion 8 low speed will be obtained. When gear 15 is disposed in the space between the gears I and 8 the transmission will be at neutral as no motion is transmitted to shaft 2 from shaft 3, and when the gear I5 is in mesh with gear 9 directional .rotation of the 3 shaft 4 will be reversed and the automobile will travel rearwardly. When the gear I5 is in the neutral position and the automobile is to be driven forwardly first at low speed, then at second speed, and finally at high speed, it is merely necessary to slide the compound gear l2 along the shaft 2 towards the left on Figure 5 and slow. sp eed will,first be obtained as .gear l5, meshed with gear-1 second speed obtained when 1 gear [4 meshed'with gear 6, and high speed obtained when the clutch number I lb engages in the socket Ma of gear I l. The fact that the compound gear moves in the-same direction. from low speed to high speed and is moved in'an opposite direction towards the right from,-thel-- neutral position to a reversing position in which gear meshes With ear 9 eliminates anydangep of the transmission being damaged by accidental movement of gear iiO mesh with the reversinggear as the compound gear is moved towards thehigh speed position;

In order to shift the compoundgear; 52* along the-shaft 2 there; has b eenprovided a lever 16 which extends verticaily th'rough an opening or slot-*lTforrned inthe-top-or cover 18 ofthe gear box and-has a-fork-l9 at its lower end. This fork extends transverselyof tlj e-main-shaft in strade clling relation thereto and 'atlower endsof its armscarries -short= shafts or -trunnions 29 upon which are mounted 'rollers 2l The-shift lever extends upwardly-from the gearbox between plates 22 -andsince- -eachw'afl these plates has feet 23 at-ltS-IOWBI BHd iZhIOLlgH WhiGhb01138 25- are passed the-plates will'b'e firmly mounted upon the cover ofthe=gear:boxand maintained in spaced parallel relation:to -each other. Aligned openings 25 iiare' formed-vertically through the lower portionseof. these plates-andon the upper per-- tions areformedtransversely extending slots 26: which are substantially arc-uate but have their end portions-- extending= downwardly in a; diagonal directional" towards side edges of A pivot pin 21' for the shift the said plates lever: passesv through the vertical openings 24 and the upper portion of the lever carries across" pin x 28 which isslidablyengaged 1 through theslots-ili; V The-slots -26 serve-as tracks for-the pin 28-and-whenthe lever' isswung about the pivot pin 27 movement of" theguide pin- 28 through the arcuate slots:causes the lever-to be shifted vertically as it moves pivotally.- Therefore rollers 2t wil l beheld =in=-a horizontal plane inwh-ichthey:will engage thegear [4 or the gear.

[S -flat pointsindiametrically-opposed relation to each other: and the compound gear will be shifted alongthe. main .shaft andcausethe counter shaft 3rancl the-transmissionshaft l to be rotatedat a desired speed; 7

Tilting or-swinging movemen-t is imparted to the lever. It :by means ofa. rod29 which be flexible throughoutits=length or consist of front.

and rear sections connectedb' -a flexible intermediate section. This rod has its front end-- pivoted to the upper end ofthe shift lever l8 bya pin 29a and passes through an elongated bearing-- which is formed of companion sections secured together by screws 3i passing through ears E2; The forward portion of the -bearing extends horizontally and is mounted-upon'a bracket 33 carried bysthe :plates. 22 and its=rear portion extends yertically, as" shownin' Figure 1:

this sleeve or bearing-is gra-dually enlarged to form' afiaring mouth 3 5fan'd thus-allow the for- Ward portion-of-the-rod 29 to be fiexedvertically- V tshould also be: noted-that the -forward portion ofthe bore 34 of during longitudinal movement of the rod and swinging movement of the shift lever. The rod 29 may be of any length necessary for its rear portion to terminate adjacent the steering column or post 35 and its rear end carries a socket 37 in which engages a ball 38 at the outer end of an arm 35 which extends radially from a shaft 46, and at its inner end is formedwith a sleeve 4| which fits snugly about the shaft 'andis prevented 10 from turning about the shaft by a set screw 42. 'I'he shaft 40 is rotatably mounted through a suitble number of bearing brackets 43 carried by the z'steerin eposti Landgits upper or rear portion passes J through the lower plate 4d of a frame 35. This ilfame is secured to the steering post by a clamp and has an upper plate 41 disposed in spaced '1 relation;to;tlie;1ower3plate 4A to permit swinging movement of a handle 48 by means of which the shaft dflis" turned. The handle or lever fits about the upperor rear end of the shaft ll! and is sec'u-red-- thereto by 'a#- pin- 49. Intermediate its lengththe-handleds; formed with a socket: 50 which projects fro'rn thehandle towards the upper or rear plate: 4-1 of the frame- 45- and slidablyscrews aplunger 5 P which is urged outwardly -by a spring 52; Under the sooket the handle is formed With a lug-:01: tooth= 53 ion engaging-- in recessses or seats: 54 formed 'in an arcuate path the-upper or inner -f'aceeofplate 44. The spring holds :the 'plunger against the upperplate and 'urges the lever-downwardly toward the lower plate of: the framerandthis-:causes the tooth 53: to. engage in therecessessorrseats 5'fl and rebear-- ably hold the lever or handleiin'adjusted positionse." Since the leverv-islifted-to shift -the tooth58 out of position to engage-in thearecessesi orplat'essthe lever may: be'swun-g transversely-without: noises being; made by -thee tooth moving outward out of the seats; Turningmov'ement: of the shaftim-fl parts swinging movement -to;.the arm-Bil and asthis ;armswings the irodz 29 sis .:shiited' longitudinally: through the bearing-sleeve wiand thershift lever. is-.tilted;about:its pivot1 24;andits pin 28 moved through the slots :26: Duringthis move-z ment of the shiftieventhe co'mpbundgear l2 will beisshiftedzalonggtheemain "(shaft 32 Sand the: gears or;pini.o.ns; l 4 randzil 5:.of athezcompjound "gear :successively; moveddnto position;.forv;meshing with thecQmpaniomgearss 6 and: l s on; the: counter shaft 3; and "thez earyl i l to progressively; increase the speed at which-kite; vehicleds moved forwardly: Anropening issformed tlrrouglrithe upper plate 41:so;that asltherhandle is:mnvedfrom'the neutral position towards the reversing position the- 55 phmgenfi I :will beuforcediupwardlyt into-the open-- il'lgsbYhiihfi; spring :52tandprvent' the lia'ndle from reachingtheereyersing position; Therefore the gear: I Secanhottb'er-accidentallyemoved into position ;to: meslr with ithef reversing gear 9 'wh ileth'e vehicle is moving forwardly and strip the -gears. A plunger 565 is =sl-idablyzmounted through asleeve 51'! projecting: front Y the i pper plate about the opening-:55 and-thisplu-nger'isformedat its upper; end with a knob-tt so th at' it {maybe easily moved 55 to':a-lower positiorr or= we raised position where it is h'eld'b'y -a latch 593 When itis desired-ta move I the handle to *the reversing position it is merely necessary to press the plungen 56 down wardly' so thatits-lower-portion enters ;and;fills .-t penjng 55 and preventstheplun-gerjI from engaging jin -the"opening: Therefore the: plunger 5t'may pass acrossthe openingfinnd the handle may be move d to the-reversing positionand thus dispose the-gear-l 5- in-meshwithgear9 and cause- Tithe vehicle to move rearwardly. Dangerof "accithe opening in dently reversing the gears is therefore eliminated but reversing can be easily accomplished when so desired.

The drawings illustrate a practical embodiment of the invention but since modification may be developed in commercial exploitation of the invention it is to be understood that I reserve the right to make changes in construction and arrangement of parts which come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having this described claimed is:

1. In a gearing in the casing including a gear shiftable along a shaft to adjusted positions; a lever for moving the gear along the shaft to adjusted positions extending into the casing and having its inner end in operative relation to the shiftable gear, a flexible rod slidable longitudinally and having its front end connected with said lever for tilting the lever and thereby adjusting the position of the gear upon said shaft when the rod is slid longitudinally, an actuating shaft, bearing brackets adapted to be secured to a steering post of a vehicle and rotatably mount the actuating shaft in spaced and substantially parallel relation to the saidsteering post, a frame adapted to be mounted upon said steering post with the rear end portion of the actuating shaft extending into the frame, an arm extending laterally from said actuating shaft and connected with said flexible rod and serving to shift the rod longitudinally and move the lever when the actuating shaft is rotated, said frame having upper and lower plates, said actuating shaft passing through the lower plate and into space between the plates, a handle carried by the actuating shaft and extending between the said upper and lower plates and extending laterally from the actuating shaft with its free end portion projecting from the frame, the lower plate being formed with a series of seats arranged in an arcuate path and the handle being provided with a lug for engaging in the seats and temporarily halting movement of the handle as the handle is moved to turn the shaft and shift the gear to adjusted positions, the upper plate being formed with an opening, a plunger carried by the handle for engaging in the upper plate and normall prethe invention, what" is venting movement shifting the gear to a reversing position, and a member movable into position to block the opening and permit the plunger to cross the opening and the handle to move to the reversing position.

2. In a transmission including a casing and gearing in the casing including a gear shiftable along a shaft to adjusted positions; a lever for moving the gear along the shaft to adjusted positions extending into the casing and having its inner end in operative relation to the shiftable gear, a rod slidable longitudinally and having its front end connected with said lever for tilting the lever and thereby adjusting the position of the gear when the rod is slid longitudinally, an actuating shaft, a bearing bracket adapted to be connected with a steering post of a Vehicle and rotatably support the actuating shaft in spaced and substantially parallel relation to the steering post, a frame adapted to be mounted upon the steering post with the rear end portion of the actuating shaft extending into the frame, an arm extending laterally from said actuating shaft and connected with said rod by a coupling and serving to shift the rod longitudinally and thereby of the handle to a position for transmission including a casing and ranged in an arcuate path and the handle being provided with a lug at its lower end for engaging in the seats and temporarily halting movement of the handle as the handle is moved to turn the actuating shaftand shift the gear to adjusted positions, a socket being formed in the handle over the lug, a plunger slidable vertically in the socket, a spring in the socket holding the plunger in engagement with the under face of the upper plate and urging the handle downwardly in position for its lug to enter the seats and hold the handle in adjusted positions, the upper plate being formed with an opening into which the plunger is engageable to normally prevent movement of the handle to a position for disposing the gearing in reverse, and means movable into and out of position for blocking the opening and allowing the plunger to pass across the said opening and thereby permit movement of the handle to a position for effecting reversing of the gearing.

3. In a transmission including a casing and gearing in the casing including a gear shiftable along a shaft to adjusted positions; a lever for moving the gear along the shaft to adjusted positions extending into the casing and having its inner end in operative relation to the shiftable gear, a rod slidably mounted for longitudinal movement and having its front end connected with said lever for tilting the lever and adjusting the position of the shiftable gear when the rod is slid longitudinally, an actuating shaft, bearing brackets for rotatably mounting the actuating shaft adapted to be secured to a steering post of a vehicle and support the actuating shaft in substantially parallel relation to the steering post, a frame adapted to be mounted upon the steering post, the rear end portion of said actuating shaft extending into the frame, an arm extending laterally from said actuating shaft and pivotally connected with said rod and serving to shift the rod longitudinally and thereby tilt the lever when the actuating shaft is rotated, said frame having upper and lower plates and through the lower one of which the actuating shaft passes, a handle carried by the portion of the actuating shaft be- 0 tween the said upper and lower plates and having its free end portion projecting from the frame, the lower plate being formed with a series of seats arranged in an arcuate path and the handle being provided with a lug at its lower end for engaging in the seats and temporarily halting movement of the handle as the handle is swung to turn the actuating shaft and move said rod longitudinally to shift the gear to adjusted positions, a socket being formed in the handle over the lug, a plunger slidable vertically in the socket, a spring in the socket urging said plunger upwardly and yieldably holding the plunger in engagement with the upper plate and also urging the handle downwardly into position for engagement of its lug in the seats, the upper plate being formed with an opening into which the plunger is engageable to normally prevent movement of the handle to a position for disposing the gearing in reverse, a sleeve rising from the upper plate about the opening therein, a plungerslidable vertically through 7 the sleeve into and outofpositions to :fili the opening in the upper plate and thereby allow movement of the plunger of the handle across the opening during movement of the handle towards a position for efie'cting reversal of gearing, and a latch carried by said sleeve and en'- gageable with the plunger for releasably holding the plunger in a. raised position out of filling relation to the opening.

OTTAVIO 'ZAN CAN REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

Number 

